ENG WON
ODI
ENG beat SA by 104 runs
Man of the Match - Ben Stokes
ENG
311-8
50.0/50 Ovrs
 
207-10
39.5/50 Ovrs
SA
ICC Cricket World Cup, 2019 |Match 1 |5/30/2019
The Oval, London
Commentary
  • So that is it from the first game! The tournament favorites are the ones who came out on top. Now we have two different teams playing on the 31st of May. It is a clash between Pakistan and West Indies in Nottingham at 1030 local (0930 GMT). Till then, take care and goodbye!
  • England skipper, Eoin Morgan, says he is delighted to be up and running in the tournament and a performance like that is more satisfying. Mentions the wicket did not allow them to execute their plan A which is scoring a big total but they showed great maturity, played smart cricket and they got to a total which he felt was competitive and above par. Credits Stokes for the way he played in every department and says he is the difference maker. Tells the bowling unit got off to a great start, they understood what would work on this wicket and executed the plans perfectly. Appreciates the way Archer bowled and he feels he is improving everyday. Ends by saying he is extremely pleased with how they fielded and that is one area they are always working out on.
  • South African skipper, Faf du Plessis, says that England were better in all three departments today and they got good partnerships out in the middle. Further adds that England got off to a good start with the ball and credits Jofra Archer for the way they bowled. Faf says he thought 300 was a par score but the wicket was slower than it usually is. Further adds that he was at one time expecting to chase around 340 with the way England were batting but credits his bowlers for the way they came back. Stresses that they bowled well and tells England are a strong batting side. On Hashim Amla's injury, du Plessis says it broke their momentum as you want the openers to play the best bowlers at the start. He informs he is okay now. Admits that their bowling is the strength as they have Dale Steyn as well and admits that they do not bat till 7, 8 or 9 and informs that hence it is important for them to restrict sides under 300.
  • MAN OF THE MATCH, Ben Stokes, on that catch, says he was panicking as he was ahead than where he should have been. Says it would have been a regulation catch had he been in the position he had to be. On his batting performance, he says it was a sticky wicket and getting to 300 was the aim. Tells that boundaries were hard to come by while batting and they knew what their bowlers had to do. On the crowd, he says the atmosphere was fantastic and further adds it got loud out in the middle. Also tells that it was a good turnout for the game.
  • Earlier in the day, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl. The England batters were going great guns till the 37th over. However, once Morgan got out, they lost their way completely. Courtesy Stokes though, they got to a competitive total, their 5th successive 300-plus score in ODIs which in the end, proved to be enough by a long way.
  • Every bowler except for Woakes was amongst the wickets. Archer was probably the pick as he finished with the three-fer. Plunkett and Stokes too had two each. The two spinners had a wicket to their name. All-in-all, it was a good day at the office for all the bowlers.
  • England headed into the second innings with momentum not on their side but they did not make it feel that way. Their new-ball bowlers were exceptional with their lines and lengths. Woakes kept it nice and tight whereas, Archer bowled with pace. One of his deliveries hit Amla on the helmet due to which he had to retire hurt. He then got Faf and Markram and pushed South Africa on the back foot early on. De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen did get South Africa back into the game with both scoring half tons. But once the former was dismissed, the rest surrendered. From 129 for 2, they were bundled out for 207.
  • What a comprehensive win for the hosts! They have justified the tag of being favorites. It was a complete team performance from them today. Their bowlers were exceptional, their batting was decent and their fielding was at its best. A day where Morgan and co. can be very satisfied.
  • 39.5
    W
    Ben Stokes to I Tahir, OUT! Catching practice! Two in two for Stokes. He did it with the bat, he was brilliant in the field and now finishes it with the ball. Length delivery on off, Tahir opens the face of the bat and guides it to widish first slip where Root takes a neat catch diving to his right. All smiles in the England camp AS THEY HAVE WON BY 104 RUNS!
  • Imran Tahir is the last man in!
  • 39.4
    W
    Ben Stokes to K Rabada, OUT! Caught. There goes wicket number 9 and Jofra Archer is denied a fifer. A short ball, around middle and off, Rabada pulls it firmly again but this time it is in the hands of Liam Plunkett at deep square leg.
  • 39.3
    4lb
    Ben Stokes to K Rabada, FOUR LEG BYES. Down the leg side, Rabada misses his flick but the ball goes off his pads. Buttler dives to his right but in vain.
  • 39.2
    0
    Ben Stokes to K Rabada, A short ball, around off, Rabada pulls it firmly and almost holes out. The ball lands in front of short mid-wicket.
  • 39.1
    4
    Ben Stokes to K Rabada, FOUR! STREAKY! Not sure though why there isn't a slip in place! Length and outside off, Rabada hangs his bat out. The ball flies off the outside edge and to the third man fence.
  • END OF OVER 39 | 6 Runs & 0 Wkt | SA 199/8
  • 38.6
    0
    L Plunkett to L Ngidi, The batsman defends it from within the crease. So a wicket and a maximum from the over.
  • 38.5
    0
    L Plunkett to L Ngidi, Squares him up! Length and on middle, the ball straightens. Ngidi is opened up in his defense and the ball whizzes past the outside edge.
  • 38.4
    6
    L Plunkett to L Ngidi, SIX! Full and on middle, Ngidi lofts it with ease over the long on fence.
  • 38.3
    0
    L Plunkett to L Ngidi, Short and outside off, the batter looks to cut but misses.
  • 38.2
    0
    L Plunkett to L Ngidi, On the fuller side on off, Ngidi drives it square on the off side to point.
  • Lungi Ngidi is the new man in.
  • 38.1
    W
    L Plunkett to H Amla, OUT! There goes the last recognized batsman. Once again we see the short ball doing the trick. It is outside off, Amla looks to pull but there is a top edge. It goes to Buttler who takes it and appeals. Amla starts walking.
  • END OF OVER 38 | 7 Runs & 1 Wkt | SA 193/7
  • 37.6
    1
    Ben Stokes to H Amla, On the pads, Amla flicks it to fine leg and keeps the strike.
  • 37.5
    1
    Ben Stokes to K Rabada, Back of a length ball on off, KG pushes it wide of cover and gets a single.